Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that you can not catch. It affects your breathing and your digestive system. When you have healthy lungs they produce mucus to protect the airways and make it easier for you to breathe. For a person that has Cystic Fibrosis the mucus is thick and sticky and can clog up the lungs.Patients of Cystic Fibrosis only live to a certain age. The average lifespan of a person that has Cystic Fibrosis is around 29 years old, and is usually only found in Caucasians. To have Cystic Fibrosis you have to inherit the gene from both of your parents. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis can live a normal life. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis are just like any ordinary person, they can still play sports and participate in any activities. Despite the fact that they have a sticky mucus in their lungs. People with Cystic Fibrosis also may have to stay at the hospital for a while. There is a simple test that doctors can do to see if you have Cystic Fibrosis. Doctors collect a sweat sample, because people with Cystic Fibrosis have more salt in their sweat than other people. You are born with Cystic Fibrosis, but it isn’t always obvious at birth. It can take a while before the symptoms develop. Some of the ways doctors tell if a baby has Cystic Fibrosis is he or she may cough a lot and get lung infections. They also may not gain weight like they are supposed to. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Though there is no cure, there are treatments and medicines that can help the patient to live a normal life. For example a person with Cystic Fibrosis may have to take special pills before a meal to help digest the food, and most of the time they get tired more easily while being active or playing sports.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that you can not catch. It affects your breathing and your digestive system. When you have healthy lungs they produce mucus to protect the airways and make it easier for you to breathe. For a person that has Cystic Fibrosis the mucus is thick and sticky and can clog up the lungs.Patients of Cystic Fibrosis only live to a certain age. The average lifespan of a person that has Cystic Fibrosis is around 29 years old, and is usually only found in Caucasians. To have Cystic Fibrosis you have to inherit the gene from both of your parents. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis can live a normal life. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis are just like any ordinary person, they can still play sports and participate in any activities. Despite the fact that they have a sticky mucus in their lungs. People with Cystic Fibrosis also may have to stay at the hospital for a while. There is a simple test that doctors can do to see if you have Cystic Fibrosis. Doctors collect a sweat sample, because people with Cystic Fibrosis have more salt in their sweat than other people. You are born with Cystic Fibrosis, but it isn’t always obvious at birth. It can take a while before the symptoms develop. Some of the ways doctors tell if a baby has Cystic Fibrosis is he or she may cough a lot and get lung infections. They also may not gain weight like they are supposed to. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Though there is no cure, there are treatments and medicines that can help the patient to live a normal life. For example a person with Cystic Fibrosis may have to take special pills before a meal to help digest the food, and most of the time they get tired more easily while being active or playing sports.
Resources
Information:
"Cystic Fibrosis." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2011. Web. 12 Jan. 2011.
Izenberg, Neil. "Cystic Fibrosis." Kids Health. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/heart/cystic_fibrosis.html>.
Video:
Cystic Fibrosis.
ABC Australia, 2005. Video Segment.
12 January 2011. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.